Russell Brand calls womanising 'blissful'

Russell Brand admits he finds it hard not to "cherish and crave" his time as a womaniser.

The ex-sex and drug addict comedian filed for divorce from singer Katy Perry after 14 months of marriage on December 30, and in an interview recorded shortly before their split he admitted he thinks fondly of his wilder days.

He told Marc Maron in his podcast: "I'd do a gig and four or five women would come back.

"There were times when it wasn't all desperate and ugly. There were times when I was this representation of pure libertarianism and sexuality. It's so hard not to cherish them and crave them.

"I know where they ended up. I know where they went, but I became this thing. Women meeting across me. One would leave, another would come.

There'd be crossovers. And they had no problem with each other. And it was blissful."

Russell also admitted he has to fight to keep his natural urges in check, adding: "If I leave food alone, I start to think food is the answer. If I leave sex alone I think sex is the answer. Or love."

The 36-year-old star also told how he recently celebrated his ninth 'birthday' of becoming sober, which he finds more significant than his actual birthday in June.

Meanwhile Katy's parents - strict Christian preachers Mary and Keith Hudson - have spoken publicly for the first time since their daughter's marriage break up.

Mary told the Church on the Rise congregation in Westlake, Ohio: "I'm sure that Katy's trending on the internet was to get you here to church tonight.

"I mean all over the world, who knows how God is bringing them in? The most important thing is you are here and God wants to put the fire in you in 2012."

Katy followed that up with an angry-sounding tweet, saying: "Concerning the gossip, I want to be clear that NO ONE speaks for me. Not a blog, magazine, "close sources" or my family."